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the sweet scoop

the sweet scoop

New York’s most mouthwatering weekend is almost upon us. From October 16-19, the 2014 Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival will be taking the Big Apple by storm and tickets are still available for some of the most anticipated events and food-fueled festivities. Don’t miss out on the chance to experience world-class cuisine, wine and spirits, while mingling with culinary legends, superstar chefs and your favorite TV personalities.

There are events to please every palate and at every price point—with locations from Manhattan’s West Side to Queens. And the best part is: proceeds from the festival benefit the Food Bank For New York City and Share Our Strength‘s No Kid Hungry campaign. Tickets are going fast—grab yours today and get ready to wine and dine to help end hunger.

Check out my coverage from previous NYCWFFs here, and let me know which events you’ll be attending. Hope to see you there!

This weekend, September 26–28, marks the seventh annual Bon Appétit presents Chicago Gourmet—one of the nation’s premier culinary festivals. To help guide event-goers through the weekend-long epicurean experience in Millennium Park, Bon Appétit Editor-in-Chief Adam Rapoport shares his expert advice on tackling the weekend like a pro.

This year, Adam will be leading the Hamburger Hop burger battle, the official Chicago Gourmet kick-off event, and serve as emcee of three interactive seminars over the weekend: The Mexican Takeover with Rick Bayless; The Whole Fish with Masaharu Morimoto; and Carla’s Comfort Foods with Carla Hall from ABC’s The Chew.

Here are Adam’s top five insider tips for navigating the festival in style:

Pack Your Sunscreen. You’re going to be eating, drinking and hanging out in the sun (yes, it’s going to be sunny) all day. Play it safe with SPF.

Explore. Reach beyond your boundaries, meet different chefs and try foods you haven’t tasted before. One of the great things about Chicago Gourmet is that the festival features restaurants from all across the country. So use your afternoon in Millennium Park to try all those restaurants you normally don’t get to.

Be Punctual. Be the nerd who gets there early. That way you can eat everything before everyone arrives, then hit your favorites for a second time.

Get Prepared. Know who’s going to be cooking and where, then map out a plan of attack. Download the official Chicago Gourmet app for Android and iPhone for the ultimate smartphone companion.

Learn Something New. Take your wine, beer and spirits cred up a notch by attending the interactive seminars. Your knowledge will dazzle all at your next dinner party.

Hungry for more advice? Follow Adam’s exciting culinary adventures on Twitter and Instagram.

Imagine traveling the globe in a single weekend, without ever leaving New York City.

The 2nd Annual Travel + Leisure Global Bazaar is an exciting multi-cultural extravaganza taking over NYC’s Lexington Armory from September 28–30. During this fun-filled weekend of events, you’ll feel like you’re being transported from region to region around the world — as you enjoy authentic international cuisine and beverages, cultural performances, live music, artisan shopping and tons of interactive experiences.

I’m honored that Travel + Leisure asked me to be an official Global Bazaar Ambassador. Join me for an international experience like none other by purchasing your tickets here. And for schedule info, visit TravelandLeisure.com. Hope to see you there!

And be sure to stay connected with me on Facebookand Twitter — I’ll be giving away 4 VIP All Access Tickets within the next few weeks!